Drop-Off Assist Path Correction for Radar Diffraction Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drop-off assist devices inaccurately determine whether an approaching object will pass by a host vehicle's door due to diffraction of radio waves by intervening objects, leading to potential erroneous alarms or missed alerts.

Innovation Solution

A drop-off assist device equipped with a radio wave sensor and a processor that corrects the predicted movement path of an approaching object based on the presence of a different object between the approaching object and the host vehicle, ensuring accurate determination of the object's path and appropriate alarm issuance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If radio wave sensor is used to detect approaching objects, then detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to diffraction by intervening objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidmovement path determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary object (the different object detected by the radio wave sensor) to mediate between the approaching object and the host vehicle. By detecting this intermediary object and using its position information, the system can correct the predicted movement path to account for diffraction effects, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the radio wave sensor to continuously monitor the presence of different objects and adjust the predicted movement path accordingly. The detection results are fed back into the path prediction algorithm to correct for diffraction, allowing the system to maintain accurate measurement despite the presence of intervening objects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If predicted movement path is used to determine alarm conditions, then response time is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to erroneous determination from diffraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse timeVSAvoidalarm accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of different objects using the radio wave sensor before the approaching object reaches the critical zone. By identifying the presence of intervening objects in advance, the system can pre-correct the predicted movement path, ensuring both timely response and reliable alarm determination without waiting for the approaching object to be in immediate proximity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If diffraction by different objects is considered, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement path determination accuracyVSAvoidpath correction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by focusing the diffraction correction only on specific regions where different objects are detected. Rather than implementing a comprehensive complex model for all possible scenarios, the system selectively applies corrections only where needed based on the presence and position of intervening objects, thereby improving measurement precision while limiting the increase in device complexity to essential corrections only

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise determination of whether an approaching object will pass by the host vehicle's door, even when a different object is present, thereby reducing false alarms and ensuring timely alerts to prevent collisions.

Implementation Method 1

the radio waves (reflected waves) output from the radio wave sensor and reflected by the approaching object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the radio waves (reflected waves) output from the radio wave sensor and reflected by the approaching object are occasionally diffracted by an edge of the different object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP4064244B1Drop-off assist device
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4064244B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4064244B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4064244B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A drop-off assist device includes: a radio wave sensor to detect an object and a processor to determine that a target approaching object (200T) passes by a door (100D) of a host vehicle (100) when a second object (300T) is not present between the target approaching object (200T) and the host vehicle (100), correct the predicted movement path (R200) based on a position of an edge of the second object (300T) when the second object (300T) is present between the target approaching object (200T) and the host vehicle (100) , determine that the target approaching object (200T) passes by the door (100D) when the corrected predicted movement path (R200) passes by the door (100D) , and issue an alarm when it is determined that the target approaching object (200T) passes by the door (100D). The predicted movement path is corrected since the radio waves may be diffracted by the second object.